AMES – The Cyclones begin Big 12 conference play at home against West Virginia at 2 p.m. on Saturday after a week of rest.
The last time out, Iowa State dropped a close 3-2 match to an undefeated Syracuse team. Redshirt sophomore Lilly Wachholz posted a career high with 21 kills and senior Brooke Stonestreet added to her impressive defensive week with 27 digs.
Wachholz led the team in kills with 15 against Colgate in the match before the Orange. She has the third most kills for the Cyclones with 101 and has been essential to their success with a lingering injury for sophomore Nayeli Gonzalez.
“She’s offensively really coming on, we’re starting to use her in different spots,” Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said. “We are just trying to give her more sets and more offensive responsibilities.”
Despite Wachholz’s impressive play as of late, Iowa State has struggled to stay consistent in close matches. The Cyclones have lost three games in five matches that have gone all the way to five sets.
“The mentality of knowing you have a lead, to finish them off when you are up 2-0,” Johnson-Lynch said. “To come into that third set with the same intensity, our mindset kind of comes in and out right now.”
However, bringing good teams to five sets should not be a complete negative. Of Iowa State’s six wins this season, two have been won in five sets.
The Cyclones know how close they were to a 9-2 record had they won the three other five-set matches, but they are not letting that slow them down.
“We’re right there,” Wachholz said. “Once it clicks, we’ll be good.”
Iowa State has yet to find a rhythm that can put together a few wins in a row, but some emotional and mental factors may be the key to doing that.
“Playing with energy, talking a lot and being consistent,” Wachholz said. “Just having fun. We try to play too fast and we just need to calm it down and smile.”
West Virginia has had its fair share of ups and downs as well. Sitting at 6-5, the Mountaineers came out of non-conference play with a 6-4 record. They were swept in their first conference match against Cincinnati.
As for one Cyclone, playing against West Virginia holds a little bit more weight. Junior middle blocker Tierney Jackson spent her first two collegiate years with the Mountaineers and is facing off against them for the first time with Iowa State.
“I’m honestly excited. It’s a different team and it is a full circle moment,” Jackson said. “I remember my freshman year I played against Iowa State and it was a really fun game, I’m just excited to show my growth.”
Jackson, who has not been a consistent rotation piece, has contributed 19 kills in 15 sets played, with the highest hitting percentage for the Cyclones with .372. As a sophomore for the Mountaineers, Jackson was fourth in kills with 199 and led the team in blocks with 83.
Iowa State has a chance to bounce back against West Virginia in its Big 12 opener at 2 p.m. Saturday in Hilton Coliseum. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
